Cyber Essentials cost: a practical guide for UK business owners
If you run a business of 10–200 people in the UK, you’ve probably heard you ought to get Cyber Essentials. But the next question — how much will it cost? — is what actually gets the board’s attention. This guide cuts straight to the parts that matter: what you’ll pay for, why prices vary, and how to budget without turning the process into a never-ending tech project.
Why cost isn’t just a sticker price
Cyber Essentials is a government-backed scheme that says you meet a baseline of cyber hygiene. The certification itself is only one piece of the puzzle. Costs fall into two camps: the certification fee you hand over to an accreditor, and the work needed to meet the standard. For many firms the latter is the bigger expense — not because certification bodies are expensive, but because organisations discover forgotten servers, unsupported software, or training gaps that need fixing.
Typical cost components
1. Certification fee
There’s a fee to get assessed and issued the certificate. If you do a self-assessment and submit it directly, the fee tends to be the lowest. If you use an external assessor or a packaged service, the fee is higher but often includes support to get you over the line.
2. Remediation and upgrades
This is the variable stuff: replacing old kit that can’t be patched, buying licences, or tightening network controls. For some companies it’s a few hundred pounds to update a firewall rule; for others it’s several thousand to refresh ageing devices. The scale of your estate and how well you already patch and manage devices drives this cost.
3. Consultancy or managed support
You can do Cyber Essentials in-house if someone sensible knows your IT. Otherwise you’ll hire a consultant or managed service to assist. Rates vary by experience and region; some firms charge fixed packages for SMEs, others bill day rates. Think in terms of a short engagement — a few days to a couple of weeks — not a long-term project, unless you’ve got serious technical debt.
4. Staff time and documentation
Someone needs to complete the questionnaire and pull together evidence. For businesses without a dedicated IT manager, that’s an hour or two a day over a couple of weeks. It’s easy to forget this is a real cost: productive staff time diverted from other work.
How much should you expect to pay?
Prices vary, but here are ballpark scenarios based on real-world experience in UK markets (use these to budget, not as guarantees):
- Low-effort route (small, tidy IT estate): If your devices are recent, patches are current and policies exist, the cost can be modest — certification plus minimal admin. Roughly a few hundred to low thousands of pounds.
- Typical SME (10–200 staff): Most businesses fall here. Expect a mix of certification fees, a couple of days’ consultancy or one-off IT fixes, plus internal time. Ballpark: low thousands of pounds.
- Significant remediation: If you discover unsupported servers, need to refresh network gear, or must roll out company-wide patches and training, costs rise — several thousand pounds or more, depending on the scale.
These are ranges, not quotes. The important point is that certification is rarely the biggest bill — the work to meet the standard is.
If you want a straight-to-the-point breakdown and next steps, see guidance on Cyber Essentials certification: guidance on Cyber Essentials certification.
Self-assessment vs assisted certification — which should you pick?
Self-assessment suits businesses that already have tidy IT: standard patching, centralised device management, and clear policies. It keeps costs low, but someone needs to understand the requirements and gather evidence. Assisted certification is sensible if your IT is distributed, you’re preparing for tenders (local councils and NHS frameworks often ask for Cyber Essentials), or you want the comfort of an expert handling tricky bits. Paying for help often speeds things up and reduces rework.
Hidden costs people miss
Money isn’t the only measure. The following often bite during the process:
- Operational disruption: Patching and device replacements can require scheduled downtime or staggered rollouts.
- Training: You’ll likely need short staff sessions on password hygiene and phishing awareness.
- Ongoing maintenance: Cyber Essentials is not a one-off — you need to keep standards to retain the certificate.
Practical budgeting tips for business owners
Keep it simple: treat Cyber Essentials as a short project with a clear owner and timeline.
- Inventory first: List devices, servers, and users. This quickly shows whether you’re in the tidy or messy bucket.
- Get a two-part quote: one for certification, another for remediation/assistance. This separates fixed costs from variable work.
- Plan for staff time: Allocate a named person for evidence-gathering and one day a week of their time for two to three weeks.
- Ask about fixed packages: Some providers offer fixed-price Cyber Essentials packages for SMEs — useful if you dislike surprises.
Is it worth the cost?
Short answer: yes, usually. For many UK businesses, the benefits are practical: eligibility for some public-sector contracts, lower cyber insurance premiums in some cases, and a reduced likelihood of basic breaches. Perhaps more valuable is the confidence it buys — less finger-pointing after an incident, and clearer conversations with insurers and procurement teams. If you trade with local councils, NHS trusts, or larger corporates, the credential helps keep doors open.
Timing and renewals
Certification is straightforward to get done inside a month if you prioritise it. The assessment itself is quick; the unknown is how much remediation you need beforehand. The certificate needs renewal annually, so factor that into ongoing budgets and maintenance plans.
Quick checklist before you start
- Do you have a recent inventory and patching process?
- Is there someone who can commit time to evidence-gathering?
- Have you got a budget for small upgrades or licences?
If the answers are mostly yes, you’re probably looking at a tidy, manageable project rather than a major IT overhaul.
FAQ
How long does Cyber Essentials certification take?
From a few days to a month for most businesses. The faster route requires a clear inventory and someone who can gather evidence quickly. If remediation is needed, that extends the timeline.
Do I need an external consultant?
No — many firms do it themselves. However, an external consultant speeds the process and reduces the risk of failing the assessment due to paperwork or misunderstood requirements.
How often do I need to renew the certificate?
You need to renew annually. That means keeping your patching, access controls, and documentation current rather than treating it as a one-off.
Will Cyber Essentials stop all breaches?
No. It addresses basic, common attack vectors. It significantly reduces risk from low-skill attackers and automated scanning, but it’s not a replacement for higher-level security measures where those are needed.
Will certification cut my insurance premiums?
Sometimes. Some insurers recognise Cyber Essentials as evidence of basic controls; whether premiums fall depends on the insurer and your overall risk profile.
Getting Cyber Essentials needn’t be a lengthy, costly ordeal. Treat it as a focused project: inventory, fix the obvious bits, secure the certificate, and keep the standards up. The payoff is practical — fewer headaches, better contract opportunities, and a calmer director-level conversation about risk.
If you’d prefer to fast-track the process and free up management time — saving money on rework, boosting credibility with buyers, and sleeping a bit easier — plan the project with a fixed scope and timeline. That way you convert the upfront cost into clear outcomes: time saved, money protected, and credibility earned.
